Ball return



July 11, 196 H. c. CONGELLI BALL RETURN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26,1957 INVENTOR HENRY C. CONGELLI July 11, 1961 H. c. CONGELLl BALL RETURN2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1957 INVENTOR 'fiRNEY H$N RY C.CONGELLI United States Patent 1 '0 BALL RETURN Henry C. Congelli,Kenmore, N.Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, acorporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 686,520 17Claims. (Cl.273-43) This invention relates to automatic bowling pinspotting machines and particularly to a novel bowling ball returnmechanism.

In bowling pin spotting machines, bowling pins are usually removed fromthe playing surface of a bowling alley into a pit at the rear of thealley after each ball is rolled by a device, known commonly as a sweep.The sweep generally occupies a non-operative position above and at theend of the pit adjacent the playing surface. After a ball is rolled anddrops into the pit, the sweep is lowered into operative positionadjacent the alley and moved therealong delivering any fallen, orunwanted pins from the playing surface of the alley into the pit. Thesweep then returns to its non-operative position. In prior art bowlingpin spotting machines, separate mechanisms are generally provided toseparate bowling balls from pins after delivery into the pit by thesweep, and to deliver bowling balls thus separated onto a return runwayor track for return to the head end of the alley.

The present invention constitutes an important advance in the artbecause it utilizes the sweep for the dual purpose of removing deadwoodor fallen pins, and unwanted standing pins from the pin supporting bedof a bowling alley during a part of its operation, and also as the primemeans for effecting the delivery of bowling balls directly from the pitonto the ball return track or runway for return to the player at thehead end of a bowling alley during another part of its operation. Thusbecause of the novel contruction and operation of the sweep, the bowlingpin spotting machine of which it'forms a part is simpler inconstruction, and less expensive to construct and maintain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sweepmechanism for removing bowling balls and pins from the playing surfaceof a bowling alley and for separating balls from pins and returningbowling balls to the head end of the alley.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means for utilizing aportion of the conventional structure of a bowling alley as a bowlingball return.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means withinthe pit of a bowling alley and coacting with the sweep for utilizing onemovement of the sweep relative to the bowling alley to effect the returnof bowling balls in the pit to the head end of the alley.

An added object of the present invention is to provide a control systemfor regulating the movement of a bowling ball directly out of the pitand forwardly up the alley to the head end thereof.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in theclaims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevation of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on line 3--3, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on line 4--4, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic electrical drawing showing a suitable controlsystem for the invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a preferred embodiment oft-he in-' "ice vention installedin a conventional bowling alley 10 and operating in conjunction with asweep mechanism 12. Sweep mechanism 12 may be similar in constructionand operation to that shown in Zuercher application, Serial N 0.575,548, filed April 2, 1956, now Patent No. 2,878,019, for BowlingAlley Sweep Mechanism.

A bowling ball 14 delivered to pit P of bowling alley -10 drops onto theupper lap of substantially horizontal conveyor 16 mounted in pit P whichis mounted for travel on rollers, one of which, roller 18, is shown inFIGURE 1. Conveyor 16 preferably is constructed of a resilient material,such as rubber. Rollers 18 are fixed on and rotate with shafts 19journaled in kickbacks K of pit P and driven in any convenient manner.Platform 20 is secured between the opposed faces of kickbacks K andsupports and prevents the upper lap of conveyor 16 from sagging underthe load or impact of balls and pins deposited thereon. Conveyor 16 issupported in a slightly inclined manner in pit P toward header plank 22and also toward the kickback Kon the side of pit P adjacent ball returntrack 24, as shown in FIGURE 2. The upper lap ofconveyor 16 travels awayfrom header plank 22 as indicated by arrow A in FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, it will be apparent that bowling balls andpins deposited on the upper lap of conveyor 16 will tend to gravitatetoward header plank 22 and kickback K adjacent ball return track 24.Pins, thus deposited will be carried by frictional contact withresilient conveyor 16 away from header plank 22 toward a pin elevator(not shown), which may be similar in construction and operation to thatshown in Holloway et al. Patent 2,767,983. Since this elevator forms nospecific part of the present invention, further disclosure thereof isomitted. Bowling balls, however, will gravitate and roll on the upperlap of conveyor 16 toward and into a corner formed by header plank 22,kickback K adjacent ball return track 24 and the upper lap of conveyor16.

At a predetermined point in the operation of the pm spotting machinewith which this invention forms a part, sweep 12 is moved downwardlyinto operative position adjacentthe playing surface of alley 10. Sweep12 is then moved along the playing surface of alley 10 rearwardly, orfrom right to left as viewed in FIGURE .1, sweeping fallen, or unwantedstanding pins into pit P.

Sweep 12 is operated by motor 31 by means of crank arms 29 fixed tomotor shaft 28. The free end of crank arm 29 is attached to sweepoperating link 33. As mentioned hereinabove, the construction andoperation of sweep 12 is essentially the same as that disclosed inZuercher application Serial No. 575,548, now Patent No. 2,878,019, andfurther detailed description thereof is omitted in the interest ofbrevity.

Referring to FIGURE 5 which shows a suitable electrical control systemfor effecting the purposes of the invention, when push button switch Bis closed, either manually or by any convenient mechanical or electricalmeans, a circuit is completed energizing relay 37, closing its contacts39 and, through normally closed contacts 32, energizing sweep motor 31.Upon the energizing of sweep motor 31, the high point 43 .of cam 45mounted on drive shaft 28 of sweep motor 31 is rotated out of engagementwith normally closed switch 41. Thus when push button B is released, ahold in circuit is still maintained through switch 43, relay 37 andcontact 32 which continues to energize sweep motor 31.

When sweep 12 reaches its rearmost limit of travel, the movement thereofis automatically stopped, and the sweep dwells in the positionillustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGURE 5, as sweep 12reaches its rearmost position, a second high portion 27 on cam 26 onshaft 28 diametrically opposite high point 43 engages and-remains incontact with .the operating armxof switch 30, opening contact 32, whichinterrupts the sweep drive motor circuit through motor 31. At the timethat contact 32 is opened, contact 34 of switch '30 is closed, therebycompleting a circuit which energizes relay 36 which closes contacts 38and 118. The closing of contacts 38 completes a circuit through normallyclosed contacts 40 of relay 42 actuating motor 44 of the ball elevatingmechanism. Relay 36 is held in by a circuit including now closedcontacts '118 and switch 116 whose contact is closed when motor 44 isenergized moving lug 90 on chain 58 out of engagement with the actuatingarm of switch 116.

Sprocket 46, fixed to one end of shaft 48 of motor 44, as shown inFIGURES 1 and 2, drives chain 50 in the direction of arrow B inFIGURE 1. Chain 50 in turn, drives sprocket 52 fixed to shaft 54. Shaft54, journaled in bracket 56, has a sprocket 57 affixed thereto whichdrives chain 58 running on sprockets 60 rotatably mounted on studs 62secured to bracket 56. Sprocket 64 fixed to the other end of shaft 48drives chain 66 in the direction of arrow C in FIGURE 1. Chain 66 inturn, drives sprocket 68 fixed to shaft 70 journaled in bracket 72. Asprocket 71 fixed to shaft 70 drives chain 74 around sprockets 76rotatably mounted on stud shafts 78 secured to bracket 72.

An elongated ball lifting rod '80 is positioned between and secured tochains 58 and 74 by connectors 82 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. When ballelevator motor 44 is energized, driving chains 58 and 74 by means of theconnections described above, rod 80 is moved outwardly through verticalslot or opening 84 in header plank 22 into pit P and adjacent the upperlap of conveyor 16. In order for rod 80 to function as describedhereinbelow, opening 84 is located a distance from kickback K adjacentball return track 24 at least one half but less than the full diameterof a standard bowling ball.

n the continued operation of motor 44, rod 80 is next elevated in slot84 to the position indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 1. A bowling ball14, moving into the corner formed by header plank 22, kickback Kadjacent ball return track 24 and the upper lap of conveyor 16, will beraised by the action of rod 80 to a point aligned vertically andhorizontally, with gutter 88 of alley 10.

Lug 90 is fixed to chain 58 such that it will contact switch 92 securedto bracket 56 when rod 80 reaches the position indicated in dotted linesin HGURE 1. Referring to FIGURE 5, when lug 90 engages switch 92, itcloses normally open contacts 93. This completes a circuit energizingtiming motor 91. This timing motor, which may be of any suitableconventional type, is provided with a switch operating flag 95 rotatablein a plane normal to the plane of the drawing, FIGURE 5. The closing ofswitch 92 simultaneously energizes relay 42. Relay 42 when energized,will open contacts 40 breaking the circuit actuating motor 44. Inaddition, when relay 42 is energized, contacts 97 will be closedcompleting a circuit to the sweep motor 31 allowing sweep motor 31 tomove sweep 12 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1, moving high portion 27out of engagement with switch 30.

As sweep 12 moves toward its forward or non-operative position, roller98 secured to bracket 100 mounted on sweep 12, engages ball 14 restingon elevated rod 80 and against kickback K propelling it along gutter 88toward the head end of alley 10. When sweep mechanism 12 reaches itsforward-most travel position, indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURES-1 and 2, ball 14 thus propelled by sweep 12 continues onto track 102and thence onto rails 108 of ball return track 24. Track 102 iscomprised of rails 104, one end of each being pivotally mounted onbracket 106 which is in turn secured to ball return track 24, with theportion of rails 104 being aligned in bracket 106 with tracks 108. Theother ends of rails 104 are secured to bracket 1'10 pivotally mounted onlink 112 which is, in turn, pivotally mounted on rail 114 of sweepmechanism 12. As sweep '12 is raised into its non-opera-' 4 tiveposition above alley 10, rail 114 raises link 112, bracket 100, and theends of track 102 attached thereto to the position indicated by thedotted lines inFIGURE 1, thus clearing gutter 88 and alley 10,permitting continuation of play.

When flag 95 of timing motor 91 completes its cycle of rotation, itopens switch 96 breaking the circuit ener: gizing relay 42 and closingcontacts 40. Since the hold-in circuit through switch 116 and contacts118'ho1ds relay 36 closed, after contact 34 of switch 30 is opened,contacts 40 thus re-established, complete the circuit to motor 44 which,when energized, continues to drive chains 58 and 74. As chains 58 and 74are thus driven, rod 80, at its position of uppermost travel shown indotted lines in FIGURE 1, will be withdrawn from pit P and into thespace between chains 58 and 74. It will be understood that since contact32 has been reclosed by high portion 27 moving ofi switch 30, sweepmotor 31 will continue to be energized moving sweep 12 to the right atFIGURE 1 after relay 42 has been de-energized. When lug on chain 58contacts switch 116 secured to the underside of gutter 88, the hold-incircuit through contacts 118 energizing relay 36 is broken, openingcontacts 38 and breaking the circuit to motor 44. Sweep motor 31 willremain energized moving sweep 12 along the playing surface of alley 10and thence into non-operative position thereabove. When sweep 12 reachesits non-operative position, shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1, highpoint 43 on cam 45 opens switch 41, breaking the hold-in circuitenergizing relay 37. This opens contacts 39 and breaks the circuitthrough motor 31 until push button B is operated at the start of thenext succeeding sweep cycle.

When, during the cyclic operation of the automatic pin spotting machineof which this invention forms a part, sweep 12 is again moved downwardinto operative position adjacent the playing surface of alley 10 uponthe operation of push button B as described hereinabove, rail 114 isalso lowered, bringing track 102 into gutter 88 in position to receivethe next succeeding bowling ball propelled therealong by sweep 12.

I claim:

1. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley havinga pit at one end, a ball return mechanism comprising sweep means forremoving howling pins from the playing surface of said alley into saidpit, a ball elevating station, a pin elevating station, means in saidpit operative to separate pins from said balls for delivery of saidballs and pins to their respective stations, means in said pit at saidball elevation station for conveying balls delivered thereto by saidlast-named means to a point of delivery adjacent one of the gutters ofsaid alley above said pit, said sweep means being operative to engage aball at said point of delivery and propel said ball from said point ofdelivery along said gutter towards the head of said alley.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, including a ball return trackextending along said alley to the head thereof, and guide means fortransferring a ball propelled by said sweep means from said gutter ontosaid return track.

3. The invention defined in 1 including means coacting with saidconveying means and said sweep means to control the movement of bowlingballs out of said pitand along said gutter.

4. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley havinga pit at one end, a ball return mechanism comprising a sweep mechanismfor removing pins and balls from the playing surface of said alley intosaid pit, an endless belt conveyor in said pit, a ball elevating stationin said pit, means mounting said conveyor transversely of said pit andwith aportion thereof inclined towards said alley, said inclinationbeing operative to deliver bowling balls deposited on the upper lap ofsaid conveyor to said elevating station, selectively operative means atsaid elevating station to convey a ball delivered. thereto to a releasestation above said pit adjacent the gutter of said alley, and meanscarried by said sweep mechanism to engage a ball at said release stationin response to the movement of said sweep to propel said ball along saidgutter of said alley towards the head end thereof.

5. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley havinga pit at one end and gutters extending from said pit to the part of thealley remote from said pit, ball return apparatus comprising a sweep,means supporting said sweep for movement back and forth along a portionof the playing surface of said alley and said gutters adjacent said pitfor removing pins thereon into said pit, a conveyor, means mounting saidconveyor in said pit with a portion thereof inclined towards a frontcorner of said pit, a ball elevating device mounted in said front cornerof said pit, said device comprising an elongated ball lifting member,means mounting said member for movement in a closed path of travel intoengagement with bowling balls delivered to the lowest point on the uppersurface of said conveyor at said front corner of said pit, means foroperating said device to elevate said balls to a release point abovesaid pit and generally aligned with one of said gultters in the path oftravel of said sweep, and means for moving said sweep to engage and movea ball from said release point along said gutter towards the head end ofsaid alley.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, including a ball return guide, aball return track paralleling said alley, means mounting said guide formovement from a point above said alley to said gutter and selectiveoperating means for locating said guide in operative position relativeto said gutter and said return track to effect the transfer of a rollingball from said gutter to said return track.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 including selectively operablecontrol mechanism for the operation of said sweep, said member and saidguide whereby the movement of bowling balls out of said pit along saidreturn track is regulated.

8. Ball return apparatus for use in a bowling alley having a pit at oneend and gutters extending from said pit to the head end of said alleycomprising a sweep, means mounting said sweep for movement from abovesaid alley into operative position adjacent the playing surface of saidalley and portions of said gutters adjacent thereto and rearwardlytherealong to deliver bovvling pins on said alley into said pit and thenin a reverse direction forwardly along said alley surface and saidportions of said gutters back to its inoperative position, operatingmeans for said sweep, means in said pit for delivering balls receivedthereon to a ball lifting station in said pit, an elongated ballengaging and lifting rod, means mounting said rod for movement into saidpit into engagement with a ball at said station in a closed path oftravel to elevate a ball engaged thereby and position it adjacent theend of one of said gutters of said alley, whereby said sweep on itsforward movement engages said ball and propels it along said guttertowards the head end of said alley, a ball transfer guide, a ball returntrack paralleling said alley, and means mounting said guide for movementwith said sweep from a position above said alley into operative positionrelative to said track and said gutter as said sweep is moved intooperative position adjacent the playing surface of said alley, said balltransfer guide being operative to direct a ball advanced by said sweepfrom said gutter into said track.

9. Ball return apparatus for a bowling pin spotting machine comprising asweep, means mounting said sweep for movement from an inoperativeposition above a bowling alley into operative position adjacent theplaying surface of said alley and reanwardly therealong to removebowling pins and balls on said playing surface into a pit at the rear ofsaid alley and then forwardly to its inoperative position, an endlesspit wide conveyor in said pit, means supporting said conveyor in aninclined manner to convey balls falling into said pitto the point oflowest travel on said conveyor, a ball elevator mounted adjacent thelowest point of travel of said conveyor to elevate balls conductedthereto on said conveyor to a delivery station above said pit and insubstantial alignment with one of the gutters of said alley, means onsaid sweep for engaging a ball at said delivery station and propellingsaid ball along said gutter of said alley as said sweep is movedforwardly to its inoperative position, a guide track, a ball returntrack paralleling said alley, means pivotally mounting one end of saidguide track for movement with said sweep mounting means from a locationadjacent the inoperative position of said sweep into operative positionconnecting said gutter and said track, whereby a rolling ball propelledby said sweep moves from said gutter onto said track.

10. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alleyhaving a pit at one end and gutters extending along the sides of saidalley from said pit to the head end thereof, a sweep, means mountingsaid sweep for movement back and forth along a portion of the playingsurface of said alley for removing fallen pins and unwanted standingpins from said alley into said pit on one movement of said sweep,operating means for said sweep, and means for removing a ball from saidpit and positioning it in general alignment with one of said gutters andin the path of travel of said sweep on its return movement along saidalley to inoperative position thereabove whereby said ball is propelledthereby along said gutter towards the head end of said alley.

11. The invention defined in claim 10 including a ball return trackextending along said alley in substantial parallelism with said gutterand guide means for transferring a rolling ball from said gutter ontosaid return track for delivery to the head end of said alley.

12. The invention declined in claim 11 wherein said guide meanscomprises a movable track, means connecting said track to said sweepmounting means and means operative in response to the movement of saidsweep towards the head of said alley for locating said guide means inoperative position for transferring a rolling ball from said gutter ontosaid return track.

13. The invention defined in claim 10 including means for preventing theoperation of said sweep operating means until said ball removing meanshas moved into a predetermined position locating a ball between saidsweep and said gutter.

14. The invention as defined in claim 10 including mechanism forcontrolling the movement of said sweep and said ball removing means,said mechanism comprising an operating circuit, a motor for operatingsaid sweep connected in said circuit, a second motor connected in saidcircuit for operating said ball removing means and means connected insaid circuit for selectively operating said motors to effect the removalof a ball from said pit and its delivery by said sweep towards the headend of said alley.

15. The invention as defined in claim 10 including mechanism forcontrolling the movement of said sweep and said ball removing means,said mechanism comprising an operating circuit, a motor operating saidsweep connected in said circuit, a second motor connected in saidcircuit for operating said ball removing means and means connected insaid circuit for selectively operating said motors, said last-namedmeans including a relay operative to incapacitate said first-named motorstopping said sweep at a predetermined position and to start saidsecond-named motor operating said ball removing means and a second relayoperative to incapacitate said secondnamed motor when said ball removingmeans has positioned a ball in the path of travel of said sweep and tooperate said first-named motor to move said sweep along said alley, saidsecond-named motor being incapacitated until said sweep propels saidball positioned by said ball removing means along said gutter.

16. In a bowling pin spotting maohine for use with a bowling alleyhaving a' pit at one end and gutters extending along the sides of saidalley from said pit to the head end thereof, a sweep, means mountingsaid sweep for movement back and forth along a portion of the playingsurface of said alley for removing fallen pins and unwanted standingpins from said alley into said pit on one movement of said sweep afterthe rolling ofa ball and its arrival in said pit, and means forpositioning said ball adjacent and generally aligned with one of saidgutters in the path of travel of said sweep on its return movement alongsaid alley toward the head end thereof whereby said ball is propelledthereby along said gutter towards the head end of said alley.

17. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alleyhaving a pit at one end, a sweep, means mounting said sweep for movementb ack and forth along a portion of the playing surface of said .alleyfor remove ing fallen pins and unwanted standing pins from, said alleyinto said -pit on one movement of said sweep,'oper-:

ating means for said sweep, and means for removing a ball from said pitand positioning it in the path of travel 2,470,052 2,591,265 Johns etal. Apr. 1,1952 2,791,426

Rundell a a1. May 10, 1949 Janes May 7, 195,7,

